Tracking the Third Piece of an Exploding Ball

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The discussion revolves around determining the position of the third piece of a ball that exploded into three equal fragments, using conservation of momentum principles. The two known fragments are located at (40 cm, 0) and (20 cm, -60 cm). Since the center of mass remains unchanged, the momentum of the three fragments must sum to zero. Calculations show that the coordinates of the third piece are (-60 cm, 60 cm), confirming the use of momentum conservation to solve the problem. The final answer is verified as correct, with the third piece positioned at (-60 cm, 60 cm).
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A ball of mass m at rest at the coordinate origin exploded into three equal pieces.
At a certain instant, one piece is on the x-axis at x=40cm, and another is at x=20cm, y=-60cm. where is the third piece at that instant


I don't have an idea how to solve it I tried many time but I don't reach an answer.

I have to use Fex=Mac.m
 
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It is solved using conservation of momentum; or centre of mass considerations. (It amounts to the same thing)
As there are no external forces acting, the centre of mass of the combined 3 fragments cannot have changed position, and must still be at the centre of the coordinate system.
Alternatively, if you let the time interval = t, you can write down the x and y coordinates of the momentum of the 2 known fragments. (You have the distance traveled in that time from the coordinates. Velocity = distance/time)
The total momentum of those two plus the unknown fragment must equal zero.

I don't see how you can use F=ma here.
 


My Physics teacher told me it solved by F=ma ..
 


Sorry to hear that.

Momentum conservation it is.
 


Is the answer going to be -60i+60j ?
 


What do i and j represent here? Are they unit cm vectors in the x and y directions?
You would normally give the answer as x=-60cm and y=+60cm
How have you calculated those values. You would need to show some working, not a guess.
 


My Work :

By Conservation of Momentum :

Pi = Pf
0= mv1 + mv2 + mv3

Devid By 3m ..

= v1 + v2 + v3
= d1/3t + d2/3t + d3/3t

Devide By 3t ..

d3 = -( d1 + d2 )

d3 = -( 40i + 20i - 60j )

d3 = -40i - 20i + 60j

d3 = -60i + 60j

So x= -60
and y = 60
 


Up !
 


Yes those answers are correct. (In centimeters)
 
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